PARIS — The first ever contemporary silk painting exhibition by Vietnamese artists has opened at the Vietnamese Culture Centre in Paris.
The exhibition, with nearly 40 silk paintings featuring scenes of daily life from various ethnic groups in Viet Nam, has attracted French and Vietnamese artists in Paris.
The exhibition, which runs until August 30, is among a series of cultural activities to introduce Vietnamese culture in France on the occasion of a millennium anniversary of Ha Noi.
CDs, books donated to institute
HA NOI — Overseas musicologist Tran Quang Hai has presented a valuable set of books and CDs to the Viet Nam Institute of Music.
The books include New Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, musicology treatment, pedagogical music and musical techniques.
Hai, whose father is popular ethnomusicologist Tran Van Khe, comes from a family of five generations of musicians.
He has spent 40 years studying music around the world. He was also the first person to find the key to the technique of dong song thanh (overtune singing).
Hai has returned to Viet Nam to attend a week-long meeting of the International Council for Traditional Music in the capital.
Luna Negra to perform
HCM CITY — Cuban band Luna Negra will entertain patrons of the Saigon Saigon Bar at Caravelle Hotel.
The six-piece band from Matanzas will play a mix of salsa, bachata and merenegue that critics have called a new twist on the classic Cuban sound. "The band, which features prominent violin work, promises to move hearts and feet in equal measure with trademark rhythms and emotive lyrics," says a Caravelle release.
Luna Negra has gathered a loyal fan following in Spain, Italy, China and Venezuela through previous tours.
The band performs at Caravelle every day except Tuesday.
Thao Trang releases second album
HCM CITY — Two years after her debut album La (Strange), Thao Trang has come out with The New Me.
Trang, who first gained public attention when she participated in the 2007 Viet Nam Idol contest, released her second album last weekend.
The album is produced by Duong Khac Linh, managing director of Early Risers Music, a member of HCM City-based Early Risers Media Group.
"The New Me" has five English and four Vietnamese songs written and composed by Duong Khac Linh, Duong Cong Thanh, Pham Cong Thanh, Minh Thuy, and Anoneus Maximus. Trang herself has written the lyrics for three songs in the album.
Two of the songs in the album have already achieved fame, featuring in the blockbuster De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love) that was released last April – Angel in Me and I Am Free.
At the launch ceremony, launch Highlands Coffee announced it would display and sell 500 copies of The New Me, autographed by Thao Trang for VND49,000, including a poster. — VNS